Unfortunately, we missed the chance for a better scenario several years ago.
But hey – have a consolation prize.
A little chocolate to sweeten your naivety?
Take a look at a more realistic level.
Oh – you still believe in a perfect world?
Did you really think there was a better scenario?
You dreamer, you.
Unfortunately, we can’t turn back time.
The past is gone for good.
Can’t handle reality?
It’s okay – we’ve got something to help you.
We knew early on.
Researchers discovered the greenhouse effect almost 200 years ago. Gases such as CO₂ and methane in the Earth’s atmosphere absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the planet. This leads to warming of the Earth’s surface.
CO₂, released through the burning of fossil fuels, has a strong influence. The fact that global warming is human-caused has been known since the late 1930s.
Since industrialisation, temperatures have been rising – slowly, but already with noticeable effects on weather patterns, the environment, and on us. And the trend continues upward.
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The warmer the atmosphere, the more water it can hold. This in turn increases the risk of heavy precipitation. Already today, the average amount of rain per rainfall event is rising. continue to Heavy Precipitation
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Healthy forests act as CO₂ sinks and therefore directly influence the trajectory of climate warming. back to CO₂ Balance
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Global warming causes water to evaporate more quickly. This promotes dry periods and droughts. continue to Drought
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The greenhouse effect is already leading to higher Earth surface temperatures in Switzerland – and therefore to more heat. continue to Heat
The continued release of greenhouse gases – especially CO₂ from the combustion of fossil fuels – will further accelerate global warming in the coming decades.
How global temperature changes manifest locally varies considerably across the world. In some regions, impacts remain relatively limited; in others, they are more severe.
Switzerland, too, has already warmed at an above-average rate.
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As air temperature and humidity increase, so does the risk of heavy precipitation. continue to Heavy Precipitation
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Higher CO₂ emissions intensify the greenhouse effect and accelerate global warming. back to CO₂ Balance
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A warmer atmosphere affects the local occurrence of prolonged drought. Rain becomes less frequent and less reliable. continue to Drought
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Higher temperatures and longer heatwaves are a direct consequence of global warming. continue to Heat
As CO₂ emissions rise, extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and heavy precipitation increase.
But even if emissions stopped increasing today, the climate system reacts sluggishly: oceans release stored heat gradually, and the CO₂ already present in the atmosphere remains active for centuries.
Reality rarely cares about averages.
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The higher the air temperature, the more frequent intense precipitation becomes. Depending on the region, this can lead to potentially catastrophic flooding. continue to Heavy Precipitation
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Additional natural CO₂ sources accelerate climate change alongside the greenhouse gases directly produced by humans. back to CO₂ Balance
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Rising temperatures cause extreme drought in some regions, while others face flooding. continue to Drought
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Climate change leads to more heat. Increasing drought further amplifies the development of prolonged dry periods. continue to Heat
That's it. RIP.
That's a bit too much.
Maybe go down a level?
Got it – you're really into extremes.
Game over.
Try a different level.
That extreme? You’ll find the matching soundtrack here.
We’re done with this planet.
On to the next!
Solutionsfor: Climate Change
Climate warming has local consequences, but it must be addressed globally.
Under the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015), individual nations committed to drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit warming to 2°C.
It is now clear that these reductions are far from sufficient.
In 2019, Switzerland adopted a 'net zero' strategy.
But the question is: is this still achievable?
And if not, then what?